Water Collection/water Vapor Selection

Biological Terms Utilized within

Water Collection/Water Vapor Selection 

        Hydrological Cycle

        According to scientists, there has been an absence of liquid water  for the past 3.9 billion years, until 10 million years ago where water flow has been detected. Thus, it is concluded that a multimillion-year water cycle occurs on Mars.

        Cycle:

Volcanic activity melts ice                        Water evaporates, condenses, and precipitates[pic 1][pic 2][pic 3]

      Liquid Water becomes ice again

        The team has found a way to utilize a fog collector to collect water vapor within Mars’s atmosphere and utilize that water to drink after being sent to the purification tank, which is elaborated further within the report.

Hydroponics

        Nitrogen Fixation 

        An abiotic fixation of nitrogen occurred on early terrestrial planets, including Earth and Mars. Mars contains 1.9% nitrogen. The prebiotic fixation prior to the formation of suitable nitrogen is imperative for the development of life. Planetary habitability must be achieved through nitrogen fixation.  The lack or loss of nitrogen will result to the loss of atmospheric pressure, which branches out to the deterioration of the planet’s capability to  maintain liquid water. In addition, lack of nitrogen would result in the deficiency of the atmospheric ability of protecting the planet from radiation.

Archaebacteria/Extremophiles

Methanogens – the scarcest traces of methane gas are detected within the atmosphere of Mars. This may indicate a sign of life.  However, the development of methane may occur abiotically or geothermally. [pic 4][pic 5]

Extreme Halophiles- streaks upon Mars’s surface indicates the seasonal flow of salt water. Thus, underneath the surface of Mars, halophiles can thrive in salty water.

Plant and Food 

        Photosynthesis and its Connection to Hydroponics

        Growth of plant vegetation method on Mars would be hydroponics. Since Mars is located further away from the Sun, fluorescent light will be used. Prepared solutions containing the essential and vital nutrients to sustain the life of the plants will be utilized with the absence of soil to grow the plants. Instead of utilizing the Sun’s radiation, the fluorescent lighting will allow photosynthesis to occur. Amongst the thylakoid compartments within the chloroplast are where the light dependent reaction occurs and the stroma is where the light independent reaction will occur. The basic products of photosynthesis include glucose, oxygen, and water.